Huckabee takes a slap at Romney

DES MOINES -- The political news Thursday was dominated by Mitt Romney's semi-channeling of John F. Kennedy as he sought to lay aside concerns by some -- particularly evangelical Christians -- about his Mormon faith. A raft of our colleagues wrote about the speech here.

But missed in all of the post-speech hullabaloo was a well-delivered shot by Mike Huckabee, currently surfing a wave of support to the top tier of the Republican field of candidates. In an interview with CNN's Glenn Beck last night, Beck asked Huckabee, who cut his public-speaking teeth as an evangelical Christian pastor -- whether he could vote for a Mormon as president.

Huckabee swerved around the question and broadsided Romney -- without naming him -- over what many consider his core vulnerability, a history of shifting positions.

''You know, I don't know that that would be an impediment, but what I really want to do is I want [to vote] for somebody whose views are not just compatible with mine but whose views are compatible with their views. I want somebody to be consistent. I want someone whose compass points north and always has. I don't care if a person disagrees with me. Quite frankly, Glenn, I can live with someone who is 180 degrees different from me. I just want him to look me in the eye and tell me, 'This is what I believe.' Not because the political winds are blowing this way....''

"...[C]haracter has often been described and defined as ... who you are when nobody else is looking. And I think that's so important. People are looking for authenticity in their leaders. Not perfection. Because none of us can provide that. None of us can be perfect. But we can be authentic.''

Ouch.

UPDATE: Looks like the pastor was prescient rather than reactive. Although this interview aired Thursday night and the online transcript linked above is dated Dec. 6, some of our eagle-eyed commenters point out that the interview apparently took place several weeks ago. Which, frankly, makes Huckabee's comments all the more interesting.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Greg]

Rightly said! The problem with romney is not his Mormornism but his flipflops.

[Derek]

Governor Huckabee is just pointing out the obvious, I mean slick Mitt problem isn't his faith, but instead is that in his entire political career he has not stayed consistent on any issues. The man flips and flops trying to play to which ever crowds are in front of him. Basically he just can't be trusted. The good news for Mitt is that his friends from club for greed is out for blood on Governor Huckabee, good thing for Governor Huckabee is that nobody is buying the phony baloney coming out of either camp. GO HUCKABEE

[David Leavins]

I agree with the last two comments. The conservative media (Sean Hannity) is trying to take the view off of Mitt's constant flip flopping and say that everybody is on Mitt because he is a Mormon. I really never hear about his religious beliefs until someone like Hannity brings it up. I am a Evangelical Christian and the fact that he is a Mormon has never affected my view of him. Just like Presidents that are Catholics or call therselves christians but do not act like one I do not make my voting decision on that fact. To me it appears that Mitt is trying to make a move towards the Religious people because he thinks that is why he is losing but if he would just wake up and realize that the reason he is losing is because he is not believable maybe he could find a way to fix that but at this point that would be hard to do. The american people are looking for someone they trust and the one who has stood out and has the most executive experience is Gov. Huckbaee and so they are rallying around him.

[Don Hannaford]

Go Huckabee!! Go Ron Paul!! The only 2 honest grass roots candidates!!

[Dean]

Huckabee's comments regarding who he WOULD vote for are only a "slap" at Romney to the extent that the reader doesn't believe the detailed qualities are to be found in Romney. Hence, such a list it thought to exclude Romney -- thereby being an exclusionary "slap."

However, if you felt that Romney embodied such qualities, then Huckabee's comments could easily be construed to bolster Romney.

When Huckabee details his own virtues, how is that a slap? It's all in the perspective/perception of the reader regarding the other candidate.

[Jason Tolbert]

Instead of taking a shot at Romney's religion as he is often falsely accused of doing, he pointed out a real reason to support himself over Romney. This was not a "shot" it was a fact. Perhaps that is real reason to say, "Ouch!"

[Maggie in Texas]

I am not 100% sure, but I believe that interview was done weeks if not months ago. All of Glen Beck's shows this week have been old interviews and I think I recall seeing this one with Gov. Huckabee before....

I do want it know that I agree 100% with Mike Huckabee. The Mormon issue is a non-issue, for me, but the old views and this big change from them, does have me concerned that Mitt Romny is choosing the route of list resistance and not really speaking his mind.

Anyone else have a feeling of Dejavu ?(spelling may be off...grin)

[Chris]

I've noticed (like everyone else) that Huckabee has been rising in the polls. It seems like the media actually believes he has the opportunity to win now.

Huckabee is just a regular guy with an incredible message. I checked out:

www.mikehuckabee.com
and
www.hucksarmy.com

and got some good info. I didn't know that Huckabee was a supporter of the fair tax...kinda cool.

[Gabe Solano]

Will Huckabee enforce internal immigration laws and cut off the magnet for illegals?? He wanted to give college money to illegal aliens-what are we supposed to believe? Is he willing to admit he was wrong to do this??

[truthseeker]

Isn't it sad the the guy leading the Republican polls is a Baptist preacher who does not believe in evolution and constantly talks about his faith to anyone and everyone who will listen ?

Is he running for President of Oral Roberts University or of the USA??

[Tony]

Benefits you will receive if you vote for Mike Huckabee:

1. He will eliminate the IRS
a. You can take home 100% of your pay.
b. Government reduces spending by $50m/yr
c. Companies return from overseas outsourcing.
d. More jobs become available in America.

2. He will switch to alternative fuels in 10 years.
a. Middle East feels the pressure, drops oil prices.
b. Gas prices drop like a rock saving you thousands.
c. Middle East cracks down on terrorists very hard.
d. The environment improves making air cleaner.

Whether you are Democrat, Republican or in between Independant, all of you would want these benefits. Mike Huckabee is the ONLY canididate willing to make these changes.

Do not let all the other canidates, media and naysayers of negative politics get in the way of you receiving these huge benefits. It's only possible if you vote for Mike Huckabee.

Please check it out yourself @ MikeHuckabee.com

[tk]

Hey, that clip of Huckabee on Glenn Beck was taped back in October and reaired last night.

[Matt]

This blog is based on ignorance...

The Glen Beck interview that Scott is referencing was a REPLAY last night of an interview from OCTOBER! Beck was on vacation.

Huckabee does NOT do negative politics...but I guess the media just cant handle that, so they take what he said (months ago) and make it a "slap" at Romney's speech from two months in the future.

Maybe Mike got ahold of the rough draft from October, HAH!

[Carl Loeber]

all Romney really did .. it is not changing his views .. it is representing the people who vote for him .. he told liberal Massachusetts that he would not charge the current law that they wanted for abortion for instance .. but he still received the accolade of prolife groups because he was personally prolife and did work for other prolife measures ..

say for gun laws .. the same ..

I can even see him changing to Democrat if that is the way to work with the legsislature and get the work done that is best for the country ..

He is a businessman for whom the greatest task is to get things done rather than working to the party line or posturing ..

[steve snow, suwanee,ga.]

It's sad not that Mr. Romney gave such a lame report to the brethren regarding his affiliation with God and Country, but that he thought it so necessary to do so. Religion has been the bane of this nation over the past eight years for no other reason than that those who are so vocal in its defense know so little about our Constitution. Article 1, Freedom from religion andf all those who would hold us to hyper Christianity. Maybe the electorate will get it correct next time.

[tyson]

Huckabee is a bigot and I don't think it is very hard to see through him. He is a smooth talker and Republicans should be wary. #1, he is too liberal. #2, he is absolutely not electable. Can we really take seriously a guy who's number one issue is abolishing the IRS. Ok, even I will admit that our tax system needs a facelift, but abolishing the IRS? How's are government supposed to function? Where is the money going to come from? Huckabee is a joke and if he gets the nomination, Republicans, you can kiss any dream of keeping the white house or winning back seats in Congress. But...I really don't think Iowans know much about picking presidents. Let's leave that to New Hampshire and serious states, not bible toting evangelical bigots. When did they ever become the gatekeepers to who is Christian and who isn't. In my opinion, anyone who judges another and says someone is not Christian is on the road to hell!

[Patrick M.]

What I don't want is a candidate who is incapable of learning and changing his or her mind on further reflection. The notion that a candidate must cast his or her positions in stone is ridiculous because it means that one must have a dead and buried mind incapable of learning and growing. Huckabee may be such a candidate. Romney has forthrightly explained the experiences that led him to reassess abortion and gay rights. His explanations are rational and appear to me to be real. I wouldn't want someone who does one thing (raising numerous taxes like Huckabee) and yet claims to be another (a fiscal conservative). What else has Romney changed perspectives on except these two high profile and rather crucial Republican issues? Such changes are quite understandable given Romney's very clear explanations for his changing views.

Romney has experience in the real world dealing pragmatically in business to find what works and learning from what doesn't. Huckabee is a career politician who knows nothing but the public coffers. That makes the choice between them real easy for me.

[Wendy 73]

Is it "playing to each crowd" or "leading each crowd"? Great comment Carl.
Leaders take people from where they are to where they can be. It is a process and change does not come easily. We are creatures of habit. A great leader has vision and purpose and understands how to bring about needed change for the benefit of all.

[Jesse]

Vote for Mike Huck-an-Idiot he'll solve all your problems. Give me a break. Old Mikey is trying to sport his "preacher past" to show how great he is. I know a lot of preachers that are dirty and I think he's one of them.

[Mel W.]

I believe there are politicians that look authentic and those that do not. But by the time you put yourself out there as a presidential candidate you have learned the art of compromise and already learned that you must venture into the disingenuous world of pleasing too many divergent interests to be a legitimate contender. But just because Mitt Romney doesn't know how to hide his equivocating, this doesn't mean that a folksy and seemingly authentic Huckabee is a pillar of genuiness either. Whether you see the two contenders as a monetary David and Goliath or just like Huckabee's personality more, I believe you'll find that Romney is in fact a man of good character and has financial and across-the-isle brokering abilities that will allow us to take on a ballooning budget deficit, medicare, and social security in a way that has never been done before. I believe that a person's character should be the primary criteria for a president, and, proudly displayed or otherwise, his wife and children are a credit to him.

[Don B from Nevada]

After listening to many of the presidential candidates over a number of months, on several issues, Romney seems to be one of the most promising and best prepared to be the next American president. I try to be objective and feel comfortable with him.

[Howard]

When Romney was 19 years old he left the love of his life, left his friends and family, went to France for two years where he was committed full time to his faith. Part of that was experience included preaching that abortion is a grave sin. He did this 7 days a week for two years. During this time he was never alone with a girl, didn't go to the movies, no parties or anything else frequently done by boys between the ages of 19-21. This is an experience few have the dedication or commitment to accomplish. Mike Huckabee is in absolutely no position to question Mitt's character. Mitt has lived his life beyond reproach. His 38 year marriage would indicate that Mitt's behavior when no one is looking is exemplar. He has Ann as his witness. As Mitt entered public service, he theorized that it was not government's role to impose his anti-abortion views on those he represented knowing full well most did not share those views. However, when the burden to govern was his and the bills were placed before him, his conscience demanded that he act consistent with his life-long belief that abortion is wrong, and that the constitution he is sworn to defend demands that he protect all life. He was a businessman with no experience in the public sector, his theory was wrong, but his personal views on abortion have always been the same. I guess this means that Mike Huckabee, by the standards he has outlined would have no problem voting for Mitt Romney. I am going to have a real problem voting for someone who is consciously using ministers of God, fueled by bigotry against Mormons as his grassroots network in Iowa.

[sam]

howard.
i understand your point, yet i cannot agree since willard has repeatedly shown himself an iconsistant man. many many times he has "changed" his views when that's where the wind is blowing.
i personally will be voting for someone who has been a lifelong supporter of life and truth. no names mentioned.

[Andrew]

I hope we all learn and grow - and realize new truths - and thus change our positions. If you are in the dark and have a flashlight - you won't be able to take the same path as if you have bright lamp that clearly shows the way. The fact that Romney changed his mind about abortion - is a good thing, and it shows he is humble enough to question his own positions - and to re-evaluate as science and other means reveal greater truth.

[cory l]

Romney is a flip-flopper. He can't be trusted by those that are "pro" or "anti" anything because he'll say whatever needs to be said at the time.

Many want to "like" Romney or "like" Huckabee. For those that feel the need to like their President I would only ask that they look at what liking the President has given us for the past seven, miserable years.

[Michelle]

I could never vote for Mitt Romney. He doesn't appear to have any true convictions, changing his position to court votes. This is shameful and I can't believe anyone would defend this. A President like this would be dangerous because he acts out of self-interest rather than the interests of the country.

I find it interesting that Romney and some talk shows (Hannity) say that he is being judged for his Mormonism but I've never seen one interviewer ask Romney about the specifics of his faith. However, it is open season on Huckabee's faith- he can't get through a single interview without someone asking him very specific questions about what he believes.

Romney has tried to gain sympathy for his Mormonism crying foul when no foul has been committed. This is all a lame attempt to take the focus off his flip flops, lack of character, illegals in his yard and nasty campaign tactics. He runs negative ads attacking his opponents and there are some who believe Romney was behind the push polling in Iowa. In his defense, nothing to my knowledge has been proven but there is some evidence.

[DLounsbury]

The problem with Romney is not his"flip flops." It is that so many journalists have bought into the liberal media template of him. Huckabee who was soft on crime and immigration is migrating to the right as well, is going to pound that note on the piano over and over again and the press will accommodate because it was used against Kerry so successfully. But if you look at Romney's 1994 Sentate Campaign brochure he was clearly a conservative then. Romney has just changed in the wrong direction for media elites. When a republican occasionally jumps ship and becomes a Democrat he is lauded by the press as finally enlightened. What a glaring double standard!

[Bob]

Did Huckabee just flip flop? When asked during one of the debates if they would support the party's nominee, he immedately said he would. Mitt Romney is not a flip flopper!! Howard had it exactly right on the abortion issue. He has not flipped or flopped on other issues. Some think he has on gay rights, but he hasn't. What Mitt said years ago was that he would fight hard to protect gay rights, but that never, ever included things like gay marriage or civil unions. Those are not rights... they never have been....they are special priveleges that would require a redefinition of marriage or an establishment of a non existing classification. All that Mitt was saying is what most of us would like to have anyone say, and that is that a gay person should be able to have certain inalienable rights to function as a member of society without discrimination; the right to jobs, the right to a pursuit of happiness, etc. Mitt hasn't changed one iota on gay rights, and as Howard said above, he has never, not once, ever signed legislation that was pro abortion. His conscience would not let him do that. I believe this man has more integrity that anyone in the public arena that I know. He's by far the most intelligent. He served as Bishop of his church, and also as Stake President, which is a position similar to what a Bishop would have in the Catholic church. And, guess what, he did that for absolutely no salary also. None of the local leaders of wards and stakes are paid a dime, thus when members of that church gives money, it goes for things that directly help people that need it, build churches, aid in natural disasters, etc. Also, Mitt, and every other missionary for the LDS church pays for every dime of their mission, as well. That includes rent, food, laundry and every other thing in the world that people righteously spend money on. They do it because they love the Lord Jesus Christ, and want to spread the word as they know it to the world.

[RGeorgeDunn]

If one wishes to look at all the candidates, they all have good points. The posts here on how Romney has conducted his flip flops may have a touch of merit. How though, can one say that it is not governments power to protect life at the level of running for Governor? What is up with that?

What we need is for this Nation to have at the helm someone with the Federalist attitude, the same as our founding Fathers, leading this Nation back to the small power base this National Government has roadmapped in the U.S. Constitution. Mike Huckabee is that Man. He is outside the beltway insiders are intent or content to lead this Nation right off the cliff into Communism. Dr. Paul also has this attitude, but for his National Security stand is too isolationist.

Though this Glenn Beck clip is older, the one fact you will find is, Mike Huckabee is consistent and back when this Mormon issue was in the buzz, Mike answered it and that answer is the same today, when the Romney campaign attempted to put some wind back into his Slick Willy sales. Why is it that Romney has not denounced the Company is was CEO of, for having ties to a Chinese Company with National Security Breaches? Duncan Hunter has asked him twice and still no response. Slick! Not only campaign funds from the lost inside the beltway GOP but now from China? Is that why Romney is spending so much money and getting no where?

[Get Off and Push]

Romney's problem for millions is he's becoming more and more like a GOP Hillary. He was pro-choice, for civil unions and a lot more in Massachusetts, now he sounds more and more like some right wing nutcase who says what the audience wants to hear.

While not always agreeing with Mike Huckabee, I respect his consistancy, honesty and integrity. He's himself and not all things to all people. Romney's Mormonism is not the issue her, his flip flops are.

[Gregory Hessenauer]

If Mr. Huckabee becomes the Republican nominee for President of the United States then Mrs. Clinton is going to inflict resounding defeat him in the elections because America is not going to elect a Christian Evangelical Pastor for President.

[Bruce]

To be honest, I could not vote for a mormon to represent the United States as our President. As a republican, would I vote for a non-mormon democrat over a mormon republican for president? Yes, I would. If a mormon was elected as the President of the United States, I would support that person as our President.

[Dan]

Constant flip-flops? Um, can someone actually bother to explain and detail this charge for once? I've done due diligence on most of the candidates from both parties and have to say that I find the collective effort to label Romney a flip flopper a la John Kerry a shallow tactic that has little merit. He has changed his views on precisely one issue: abortion.

As most should know he did in fact state he wouldn't try to make abortion illegal as Governor. What people hear now is that he says he was wrong and wants to affect the opinion of the people so that Roe v Wade is one day over-turned and the legality of abortion is thereby turned rightly over to the states to decide. To political operatives this ammounts to a flip-flop. What insincere partisanship doesn't acknowledge is that during his governorship he in fact ruled as a pro-life individual. Every time anything came across his desk that involved life, he sided with life. He never once ruled as a pro-choice official. He simply changed his mind from theoretical reasoning when actual practice came into play. And he wrote so at the time in an op-ed to the Boston Globe.

So changing on abortion makes one a flip-flopper? If so then you would also not elect George HW Bush since he converted to pro-life, and you would also not elect Ronald Reagan since he too converted to pro-life, not to mention he was the ultimate flipflopper in that he used to be a Democrat at one point.

So, do you have some other so-called proof of Romney flip flops? Gay marriage you say? Saying he was once for that and now against it is a gross mischaracterization. Romney, as most, has always supported gay rights in so far as any human being should be granted civil rights, but has always opposed gay marriage, again, as most logically do.

So these are the two issues where anti-Romney operatives have decided to use in an effort to paint him John Kerry. Both, it should be noted, are on social issues secondary to the crucial events going on in our nation today, yet retain a core meaning to conservative voters. That truth indicates mainly that those behind the attacks have very little to criticize Romney on, so they default to a twisting of basic issues, a shading of general principles.

I think this is terribly great news for Republicans and Romney supporters, since the attacks against him are remedial and generic in principle and in point. Romney isn't a social liberal as Rudy definitively is. He doesn't have a record of supporting abortion, and promoting gay marriage, and infidielity. He doesn't have a record like Huckabee that is soft on illegal immigration (giving tax breaks to tuition, making it easier and cheaper for illegal aliens to go to college than it is for our own citizens), that is soft on crime (Huckabee gave more pardons, commuted more sentences as Governor of Arkansas than the 6 neighboring states, including a Dukakis pardon of a man convicted of raping a 15 year old girl, freeing him only to see him rape another woman and advance his violent record by then murdering her), that is evident of being a tax-and-spend republican (as Huckabee's record in Arkansas comes out as raising taxes more than Bill Clinton did when he was governor).

No, when it comes to record, when it comes to accomplishment, none of these guys touch Romney's successes in Massachusetts, in the private sector at Bain Capital, or in the feat of saving the scandal-ridden Olympics in 2002. He's been a genius at saving failing entities in all these areas, and making them thrive. Massachusetts had a $3Billion dollar deficit when he took office, and finished with nearly a $1Billion dollar surplus when he left, and he did that with an 85% democrat congress, and without raising taxes, and with adding statewide healthcare.

The bottom line in all this is Mitt's a winner. He's got a record unmatched by anyone, and so all the criticism comes in the form of generic acrobatics on one issue that is supposed to mean he is a flip flopper. This is an extremely pathetic strategy, and one that is not working and will not work, just as its brother-in-arms, the silent, hey pssss, hey over here, shhh, you didn't hear it from me, ok, but Mitt's a Mormon, ok? These are losers tactics and signal how strong a candidate Romney is as they only attack these phantom charges instead of discussing his record in any of the relevant careers, topics, or offices he's already held.

Huckabee can't win the nomination, but he can serve as a blocker to undercut Mitt early, giving the nomination to Rudy, who is far more unlike Huckster than Mitt is. In effect, Huck is a Perot, a proxy Rudy vote. Now, I get the sense Huckabee is mighty fine with that because he'll likely be Rudy's VP selection should it work out this way, which should sicken all just as Huckabee's usage of Jesus as his political operative should.

In any event, I won't worry much about all this because the odds favor that Huck's riding the same 15 minute wave that Thompson already has, and will indeed wipe out as comes the scrutiny of his actual, unconservative and soft on crime and pro-amnesty, pandering record goes under the microscope, the very thing the anti-Mitt bigots avoid doing to see the grandness of Romney's record.

[Alex]

Tony,

Respectfully, I disagree with you. Anyone who believes that Huckabee (or anyone for that matter) will eliminate the IRS and send you home with 100% of your pay is terribly misinformed. Also, explain to me how a president can (or should) stop outsourcing? Wouldn't that be a gross expansion and abuse of presidential power?

Frankly, the comments section isn't long enough to go into a discussion of why Huckabee's promises concerning tax and outsourcing are untenable. As someone with a masters of tax degree from one of the top 3 programs in the country and a JD from a top school, I've got to tell you; Huckabee's promises are the stuff of political rhetoric for the masses rather than reality for you and me,

[Kevin]

"Thou shalt not use the Lord's name in vain" means more than avoiding the commonly used curse. It also means not to use His name in self-promotion.

[Mark]

Huckabee is the pot calling the kettle black here. He has changed his position on immigration and taxes in the same way Romney has changed on abortion.

Both men would be good leaders in the fight against abortion. The difference is, Huckabee does not measure up to Romney in terms of leadership experience on economic principles, and he simply does not stand in the same room in terms of past successes in the private, public and volunteer sectors. Romney would be a better leader in terms of making the US a top player in the world economy, balancing our budget and reducing taxes.

Romney is not perfect, but either is Huckabee. WIth Romney, you will be getting someone who refuses to accept a public servant salary. Contrast that with Huckabee who has a long list of ethical complaints against him for accepting gifts and claiming furniture paid for with tax dollars.

[Mark West]

Huckabee has about as much potential to be an American president as Tom Tankrato. It's hard to think of someone whose whole campaign is about being a Baptist pastor.

I really think the Democrats have it again. This is like the 1990s Bob Dole campaign all overagain! Frankly I don't want a guy with a theology degree from who knows where to run my economics!

Where is his theology degree from anyway?

[Mark West]

Huckabee has about as much potential to be an American president as Tom Tankrato. It's hard to think of someone whose whole campaign is about being a Baptist pastor.

I really think the Democrats have it again. This is like the 1990s Bob Dole campaign all overagain! Frankly I don't want a guy with a theology degree from who knows where to run my economics!

Where is his theology degree from anyway?

[A. Burns]

I find it disgusting that Huckabee is running as the "Christian Candidate."

If this alone wins Iowa for Huckabee, I predict that Iowa will be downplayed in the future. It will become known as the place that will only vote for the "most Christian." Iowa will loose its influence, amounting to less than a straw poll. At least for republicans.

I also predict a defection of Mormons to the democratic party if they feel that Romney is being kept from the white house because of his religion. Democrats will accept anyone. Mitt's Mormonism is only an issue for the evangelicals - not the rest of the republican base.

It seems to me (but maybe I'm not evangelical enough) that just saying something like "I could not vote for a Mormon" is a bit un-Christ like. After all, when you look at what Mormon people stand up for, it's all Christ like stuff. They just think that you have to do a bit more to get into heaven than "believe the right thing."

Evangelicals SEEM to be a pretty closed-minded bunch. In fact, I don't think I'll ever vote for one.

[AmericanWoman]

"Rightly said! The problem with romney is not his Mormornism but his flipflops."

I'm not sure what kind of preacher or Christian considers having a revelation, repenting and going on to have a perfect pro-life record while in office means a person is lacking in character and deserves to be slapped around, which Huckabee has been doing to Romney relentlessly for his own personal gain. Not my kind, I can tell you that. He even attacked Romney on the day of his speech on "freedom of religion" to eclipse him and use him for cover, because of his role in the Dumond rapist case.

Huckabee also has a big mouth, says horrible and stupid things regularly, and tries to disguise a vicious nature behind jokes. I consider having someone like that in the White House a threat to our national security, if he does it to the wrong person or nation, and it's a habit.

No way would I vote for this trickster and he's full of them. Case closed.

[Dennis]

Bravo Bruce!!!

[Chris Hardy]

What would be interesting is to have Huckabee win the republican nomination and loose the general election by 9 votes - Utah 5, Idaho 4. Would the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints vote for Hillary (whom most despise) or someone who has been "Un-Christian" about their religion?

[Ateleses]

I fully agree with Alex. I too am a JD/CPA and find the idea of a "fair tax" unrealistic. It just shows his lack of understanding about taxation and economics. Don't get me wrong, I think it is ridicules that the rich pay all the taxes in this country and never get appreciated for doing so, but Huckubee is just plain uninformed on this! Not to mention a bigot and practices preistcraft (also know as paid ministry).

Ateleses CPA, Esq.

[Daniel Kay]

I predict the so-called "Huckaboom" will turn out to be a big fat Hucka-dud as soon as voters take a serious look at his hollow credentials.

[David]

Honestly, I think it would be better said that Mike Huckabee IS running for "Pastor-in-chief" rather than Commander-in-chief. He proudly states in the debates that he is the only candidate with a "theology degree." His advertisements declare him as "a Christian candidate." He makes many references to his experience as a Baptist minister.

It's almost like he should stay with his ministerial credentials and take Billy Graham's place as the Baptist spiritual advisor to American presidents. In case Mitt Romney becomes president, Rev. Huckabee would be the ideal person to help keep a President Mitt from following the "evil" bidding of the "terrible" Mormon prophet--the 97 year old man who in 2004 was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (America's highest civilian honor).

Of this "dangerous" man the White House said that, as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1995, Hinckley has "inspired millions and has led efforts to improve humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and education funding across the globe." Certainly, Rev. Huckabee could be in the best position to save us all from the possible evil influence of this "non-Christian," and "dangerous" prophet who "claims" to follow Jesus Christ in serving his fellow man.

Seriously, as a long time convert to the "Mormon Church," I can assure you that Mitt's church and its president are not in any way a "threat" to America. If anything, I can attest to readers that Mitt believes in the same Biblical Jesus Christ I have always believed in for many years attending/joining Assembly of God, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Disciples of Christ Church, and now, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To judge me as no longer a "Christian" because I am a Latter-day Saint is, itself, un-Christian and insulting. That kind of talk is why evangelicals are distrusted by much of America.

You are quick to throw stones at other churches, and groups, and individuals, while you have plenty of past and present faults and shortcomings of your own. Your various doctrines and beliefs can be seen as a bit weird too. Jesus warned us not to bear false witness and to love our neighbor. Frankly, I am appalled at how (with tax exempt funds) you have anti-Mormon sermons, lessons, pamphlets, films, TV and radio shows, etc., in the name of your brand of Christian faith. No wonder non-Mormons are so afraid of Mormons; I would be too if I didn't know how twisted and inaccurate is such propaganda. As Mitt says, we are all children of the same Father in Heaven--a Father who wants His children to show kind respect to each other without unrighteous judgement. Let Him be the judge.

Why be hateful to us because we say we have the true church? The Catholics believe their's is the only church. Now, you evangelicals claim you are the holder of the keys of the true church of God. Please stay strong in your faith as you wish, but allow us the same right of worship and belief in God as any other church in this great land of freedom.

[HT Springer]

I was amazed that Huckabee made such a foolish comment deriding Romney's religion. Southern Baptist preachers in general harbor a deep hatred of Mormonism, and I suppose that Huck just couldn't contain himself. I think we've just heard the Republican equivalent of the Dean scream.